Document Type : Short Communication
Authors
1
Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
2
1- Department of Health in Disasters and Emergencies, Health Human Resources Research Center, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
3
2- Master's student in Nursing, Fasa University of Medical Sciences
10.30476/jhmi.2026.111773.1372
Abstract
Pre‑hospital emergency personnel in Iran experience chronic occupational stress from routine exposure to trauma, death, and violence. The added threat of war – including anticipatory anxiety, narrative warfare, and potential mass casualties – exacerbates these pressures, endangering both individual mental health and the resilience of the emergency response system. International experiences from Lebanon, Israel, and Somalia show that preventive mental health interventions for frontline responders are feasible and effective, provided they are adapted to local contexts. Based on an analysis of Iran’s emergency medical system, we propose five strategic pillars for a national preventive mental health programmed: continuous confidential monitoring, mandatory resilience training, accessible peer and professional support, crisis debriefing protocols, and cognitive‑behavioral interventions against narrative warfare. Implementation challenges such as stigma, resource constraints, and organizational culture must be addressed through a phased, pilot‑based approach. Delaying action risks losing the workforce essential for disaster response. Iran needs an institutionalized, evidence‑based psychological preparedness program me – not rhetoric.
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